Switch mechanism



M a 192 0 i-L G. @AXTEFK SWITCH MECHANISM Filed May 17, 1920 wrrNEssEs; mvENToR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 192%,

UNETED STATES til 1 Z, a

T310 86 MANUFAGTUEINQTZ' COMPANY,

SWITCH MEEHANISEL Application filed May 17, 1920. Serial No, sense-i.

To 6:33 whom it 11mg concern:

Be it known that I, Hsnocn G. BAXTER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Baldwin, in the county oi Nassau, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement in Switch Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch mechanisms and particularly to quick-acting switch mechanisms for enclosed safety switches One object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for enclosed safety switches that shall effect quick actuation thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism, of the above-indicated character, that shall be simple and rugged in construction and reliable in its operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view oi" the switch box embodying my inventiong'Fig. 2 is an end view, partlally in elevation and partially in section, of the box shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the operating handle of the box shown in Fig. 1,

A safety switching device 1 comprises a box 2 in which are disposed a switch 8, a switch-actuating mechanism 'safety fuses 5 and an operating handle 6 that extends into the box 2 and serves to operate the mechanism 4. The switch mechanism 4 comprises a rocker arm 7 101' actuating the switch, a rocker cam int-amber 8 that IS secured to the arm 7, two rod members 9 and 10, mounted at the respective/ends of the cam member 8, and two springs 11 and 12 that are slidably mounted on the rods 9 and 10, respectively: A cam member 13 is securely mounted on a sleeve member-14: that extends through the casing Q and is adapted to receive a ortion 15 of the operating handle 6 to w ich it may be secured by a pin 16. The cam member 13 is adapted to alternately compress the. springs 11 and 12, depending n on whether the switch is to be opened or c osed. The cam member 8 is provided, at one end thereof, with two notches 17 and 18, that are adapted to engage corresponding notches 17 and 18, respectively, on a pivoted latching member 19. A spring 20 is secured to the latching member 19 and to co-operate with a stationary member 21 for biasing and maintaining the latching member 19 in such position as to restrain the action of the cam member 8 The latching member 19 has a portion there of cut away whereby an arc portion 22 is formed that is concentric with the center line passing through the portion 15 of the operating handle 6. A compressing member 23 that is turnably mounted on one end of the cam member 13 and is slidably mounted on the rod 10, is adapted to so en gage the arc portion 22 oi the latching member 19, when the operating handle 6 has been moved to a predetermined position, as to disengage the latching member 19 "from the cam member 8 to permit the cam memher to be actuated by the spring 11. A compressing memberf j i is similarly mounted on the other end of the cam member 13 and on, the rod 9n When the switch 3 is to be opened, the on crating handle 6 is so actuated as to compress the spring 11, The cam member 8 is prevented from actuating the switch 3 by the restraining action of the latching member 1.9. 'When the spring 11 has been compressed to a predetermined degree, the co pressing member 23 engages the are 22 of the latching member 19 and so actuates that member as to effect the release of the cam member 8. The compressed spring 11 is then permitted to quickly open the switch 3.

When the switch 3 is to be closed, the cam member 8 is again restrained, by the .cooperation of the notches .18 and 18*, until the spring 12 has been compressed to a predetermined degree, whereupon the member 23 so engages the are 2%, of the latching member 19, as'to disengage the latching member 19 and the cam member 8, to permit the actuation of the rocker arm 7 by the cam member 8. By storing sufiicient energy, 'to actuate the switch, in such manner that it may be released suddenly, a quick actuation of the switch is obtained.

The employment or the sleeve member 14 and the locking pin it permits the handle ii to be removed during. packing and shipping operations and permits a considerable saving in space,

Although I have shown a preferred form of switch mechanism embodying my invention, I do not limit it to the structure illustrated, as various modifications may be.

made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

claim as my invention:

1. A quick-acting switch mechanism for a switch comprlsing an operating handle, a plurality of separate resilient members allternately energized thereby, a cam member for actuating the switch, and a latching member for precluding the actuation of the switch until the resilient members have been energized to a predetermined degree.

2. Switch mechanism comprising a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends, so arate spring members pivotally connecting the ends of the respective levers, a switch connected to one lever, a latch forcontrolling movement of the last said lever and operable to releasing position by the other lever.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a pair Lemons of levers pivoted intermediate their rods for pivotally connecting the respective ends of the levers and permitting relative angular movement thereof, compression springs disposed on the rods for moving the levers, a latch means for controlling movement of one of the levers and operable by the other lever, and a switch connected to the lever controlled by the latch.

4:- A quick-acting switch mechanism comprislng a switch-actuating means, a cam member for actuating the switch-actuating means, a plurality of resilient members disposed at the respectiveends of the cam member, means for energizing the resilient members and means for restraining the cam member until the resilient members have been energized to a predetermined degree.

ends,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this third day of May, 1920.

HAROLD G. BAXTER. 

